Chicken CUTELET (Not Cutlet!) At the Beach

Before Tommy was born, I was the biggest beach bum. I had a season badge every summer, even when I lived an hour from the beach, and I'd drive down and back on Saturday and Sunday to sit for hours. To me, it is one of the most relaxing things to do - set up a chair, get a good book and a couple of gossip magazines and some Cheez-its and pretzel rods, and I'm good to go!

 With Tommy's arrival, the season beach badge disappeared. Even if I had a sitter for Tommy some days, I knew the price of the badge did not justify a purchase, as I would never use it enough. Last summer, we got to the beach twice with Tommy, staying about 2 hours each time (in my glory days, I could sit there by myself for 5-6 hours). He wasn't the biggest fan, not liking the feel of the sand, or getting "dirty" perhaps. 

During the spring, I brought Tommy up to the beach a few times, perhaps with the ulterior motive that I was going to convince him the beach was a fun place. We dug in the sand, collected shells, watched the boats, watched the surfers. He would actually ask if we could go to the beach some days! So last weekend, I decided to venture to the beach with Tommy - just the two of us.  Fortunately, I have a parking spot available to me right across the street from the beach I usually go to through a member at the club John works at, so I took advantage of that, since I was carrying a really big bag filled with towels, snacks, cooler, beach toys, sunblock, one book (and no magazines, and I only brought the book because I figured if I did not bring it, I would have been wishing I had!), and Tommy's little chair (yes, this is a HUGE bag, perfect for the beach). Plus I had my chair on my back, and an umbrella.

Tommy was very helpful and cooperative, carrying one pail for me, and listening as we waited to cross the street and then while I bought my beach badge.  A season beach badge. Seriously, I'm not sure what I was thinking, because we had not even set foot on the beach for the 'real' season, but for what a daily badge would cost, I decided if I use some vacation days and go to the beach myself or with friends during the week occasionally, the season badge should be worth the investment. So I need NINE more days at the beach for it to come out even!

Upon arrival, first order of business was a juice box.

Next up, getting DIRTY and digging in the sand

Low tide, which was perfect for some pools for Tommy to play in with some other little kids!
Sorry for the side view, but on my phone and computer it's the right way.

After a few HOURS of playing in the sand and "pools," we were hungry, and "cold," so we relaxed at our blanket.

And someone took a TWO HOUR NAP ON THE BEACH!!!!!
And yes, that would be sand all over his face that was blowing, making him look like a chicken cutlet (I prefer CUTElet, however!)

MIA from this photo and the one above is the umbrella, which I was pretty much holding onto for the 2 hour nap session, as it was a bit breezy and I forgot to bring something to pound the umbrella in really good!

Me and my Sweet T snuggling after a FIVE HOUR DAY at the beach!

Yes, you read that right, we spent five hours at the beach. I don't think John has ever stayed at the beach more than 3 hours!  It was beautiful, though breezy, and not crowded at all.  Tommy played with 2 other little boys for a while and wore himself out,  thus the 2 hour nap. He laid down by himself, no cajoling from me needed! I got to read the book I brought along JUST IN CASE, though I did end up doing a lot of work to keep the umbrella in the ground so Tommy was in the shade at least.

And I must mention how awesome it is to not have to deal with diapers at the beach - regular or swim ones! I was so impressed and grateful to Tommy for sharing such a great day with me, when we went potty near the end of the day, I treated him to a new BIG shovel that he had his eye on since the other boys he played with each had one, as well as a strawberry milkshake that he requested. And walking back to the car, while I still had my hands fully, Tommy helped me throw out our garbage and carried some sand toys for me.

Let's hope the rest of the summer our beach days are just as great, with my little chicken cutelet!